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Nature and Technology
Each passing day, man makes new progress in technology, produces wonders
in design and production. Human beings can design and produce new products
with the skills Allah grants them. This point deserves particular attention,
because Allah gives them this skill, so people have no right to be puffed
up with pride or arrogant.
Nature is one of the pieces of evidence for this. Anyone, who looks around
carefully, can see that Allah has gifted nature with countless wonders.
Everywhere, every living being, from plants to animals, on land and in
sea, is equipped with amazing features. In this chapter, where living
beings that serve as examples of technology are presented, the purpose
is to show that the things people think they have attained with their
own skill already exist in nature and to remind us how wrong it is for
man to be boastful.
Some designs produced by man after years of research, effort and technological
development have existed in nature for millions of years. Scientists,
who realise this, have been observing nature for a very long time and
they make use of it in their inventions. They have started to develop
new models by referring to the examples in nature. They have realised
with some astonishment that there is a great difference between the techniques
they use and the perfect techniques used in nature. This has led them
to accept the existence of a superior Owner of Wisdom Who rules over nature.
They understand that all these subtleties could not have been formed by
coincidence. The owner of this superior wisdom whose existence they have
grasped through science is unquestionably Allah, the Sustainer of the
heavens and the earth.
For instance, after dolphins were studied, a projection called the "dolphin
snout" was added to ships’ bows, which were initially produced in a "V"
shape. Designers understood that the structure of the dolphin’s snout
is ideal for the best hydrodynamic cutting through water. No doubt, not
only the structure of the snout, but all the features of the dolphin are
ideal, because each one of them is the work of Allah Who is the "Maker"
(Surat al-Hashr: 24)
In this chapter, we will review models, which designers produced by imitating
nature as in the example of the dolphin. We will draw attention to the
excellence of the creation of Allah. These features of living beings,
each one of which is a wonder of design, are very important for appreciating
the might of Allah. The features of living beings here covered have existed
for millions of years, that is, since they were created. Man, however,
has only been able to imitate some of their features in the last couple
of centuries. For those who can see the evidence of the might of Allah,
everything in nature is endowed with such features. This is stated in
a verse:
(These are) an instruction
and a reminder for every penitent human being. (Surah Qaf: 8)
THE VELCRO BANDAGE AND THE
BURR
The Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral developed a new buttoning system
called the Velcro Bandage by imitating burrs.
After spending a great deal of effort in getting rid of these
parts of plants sticking to his clothes, Mestral thought to use
the system of these plants in the clothing industry. He formed the
same clasping system in an overcoat by putting the hooks of this
part of the plant on one side and the curls of an animal’s coat
on the other.
Due to the flexibility of the hooks and curls, the system attaches
and detaches easily, without wearing out. This is why the suits
of astronauts are today equipped with Velcro bandages.
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 ROBOTS
AND BUGS
Scientists working on robot technology do not fall short in
observing bugs during their research. Those robots, which are
made by taking the legs of bugs as reference, have a firmer balance
when standing on the floor. Such robots, having sucker mechanisms
placed on the tips of their feet, can walk on walls and ceilings
like flies.
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 THE
BOW OF THE SHIP AND THE DOLPHIN
The snout of the dolphin was taken as a model for the bows of
modern ships.
Instead of the V-shaped bows, a structure similar to the snout of
dolphins is used in big ships constructed today. This type of bow
splits the water surface more efficiently, thus helps faster sailing
with less energy consumption. The dolphin snout-type bows save up
to 25% of fuel. |
 CONCORDE
AND THE DOLPHIN
Dolphin snouts also served as a model for the designers of the
Concorde. In a study conducted by engineers to reduce air friction
on the outer surface of the Concorde, the spindle-shaped snout of
the dolphin inspired them. The tail fin of the fish works as an
engine in the water. Similarly, Concorde’s motors were placed at
the rear as is the driving motor-like fin of the dolphin and a very
good result was obtained. |
 SUBMARINES
AND THE DOLPHIN
The shuttle-shaped body structure of dolphins earns them the
ability to move very swiftly in water. Scientists discovered yet
another feature that plays a big role in the swift movement of the
fish:
The skin of the dolphin is made up of three layers. The outer
layer is very thin and flexible. The inner layer is thick and
made up of flexible hair which makes this layer look like a plastic-haired
comb. The third layer in the middle is made of a sponge-like substance.
A sudden pressure likely to effect the rapidly swimming dolphin
is cushioned as it is transmitted into the inner layers.
After a four-year research, German submarine engineers managed
to make a synthetic coating with the same feature. This coating
was made up of two rubber layers and between the layers were bubbles
similar to the skin cells of the dolphin. A 250% increase in the
speed of submarines was observed in those in which these coatings
were used.
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 SONAR
AND THE DOLPHIN
From a special organ located on the front part of their head,
dolphins emit sound waves with 200,000 hertz (vibrations per second).
With the help of these vibrations, they not only detect obstacles
in their way but also, from the quality of the echo, estimate the
direction, distance, speed, size and shape of the object in question.
The working principle of sonar is the same as this faculty of dolphins. |
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 HEAT
INSULATED CHIMNEYS AND THE NETTLE
The insides of the nettle are coated with a hard layer made
up of lime and silica. This special layer protects the plant against
the caustic liquid produced by the plant. A German company has
started to apply this protective quality of the nettle to the
construction of factory chimneys.
THE SKELETON OF THE SPONGE
The sea sponge has an interwoven skeletal structure made up of
glass-fibres and slim pin-like structures. This skeleton protects
the sponge from all kinds of aquatic conditions. The BMW building,
which is constructed by a similar technique, is, however, quite
infirm in comparison with the skeletal structure of the sponge
living in its aquatic medium. |
 
AEROPLANE WINGS AND THE DRAGONFLY
In 1930s, engineers started to modify the edges of aeroplane
wings to prevent the vibrations caused by air currents from harming
the vehicle. Twenty years later, scientists found out that this
system had already been present in the wings of the dragonfly.
The small black cells at the tip of the wings of the dragonfly
serve the same function as the weight on the tip of aeroplane
wings.
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THE HELICOPTER AND THE DRAGONFLY
MBB, a company producing weaponry and rockets, has taken the
aerodynamic structure and flight style of the dragonfly as a model
for the manufacture of BO-105 type helicopters.
Sikorsky Helicopter Company of the US developed a new design
by directly adapting the methods the dragonfly uses for flight
to helicopters. This process is shown on the right with its intermediate
stages during the design of the helicopter.
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  RADAR
AND THE BAT
Having such weak sight as to be considered "blind", bats emit
very high frequency sound waves called ultrasound. These sounds,
which are over 20,000 hertz (cycles per second), are inaudible to
human beings. The sound waves emitted by bats are reflected off
birds in the air, animals on the ground and other objects that stand
in the bat’s way. The bat determines its direction and orientation
according to these reflected vibrations. Radars work on the
same principle. |
 THE
MAPLE SEED AND THE PROPELLER
The shape of the maple seed causes it to rotate around itself
very rapidly as it falls to the ground. This shape inspired Sir
George Cayley, one of the first experts on aviation. |
 
THE CHICORY SEED AND THE PARACHUTE
The seeds of the wild chicory plant make a long trip floating
in the air by means of winds. The principle of parachutes is the
same as that of this plant. |
  THE
BUTTERFLY AND THE HOSE-PIPE
The butterfly’s proboscis is an advanced Ïtool equipped with
numerous technical details. At moments of rest, the proboscis is
coiled up like a watch’s helical spring. When the butterfly wants
to feed, a special muscle in the proboscis swings into action. When
the proboscis is unwrapped to take the shape of a pipe, it can even
suck the flower’s nectar from the deepest petals.
The straws we use to drink beverages also have the same system. |
  THE
MOUTH OF FLY AND THE ZIP
It has only been a century since zips were invented. Yet, flies
have been using the zip system, for the hundreds of thousands of
years since they were created, to lock their lower lips.
The proboscis expands at its tip thus helping to disclose the natural
zip. |
  
ARCHITECTURE AND THE COBWEB
The tight structure of the cobweb made by the dew spider does
not permit the web to be torn. In our day, this feature of the web
has been discovered by civil engineers, who use the same system
with the help of barbed wire. The Hajj Terminal in Jeddah Airport,
and Munich Zoo are just two buildings constructed making use of
this principle. |
  FLUIDITY
AND THE BLUE TROUT
New York firemen add a substance called ‘Yolioks’, which is similar
to the viscous gelatinous substance produced by the blue trout,
to the tank water of their vehicles. This substance increases the
speed of water flow at the hosepipe’s nozzle. This system increases
the water’s pouring volume by 50%.
The mucoid fluid covering the blue trout’s skin reduces friction
in the same manner, and helps these fish proceed easily in water
despite strong water resistance.
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  THE
EIFFEL TOWER AND THE HUMAN BONE
While designing the famous tower, Maurice Koechlin, assistant
to Eiffel, the architect of the tower, was inspired by the femur,
the lightest and strongest bone of the human body. The result has
been a self-ventilated and strong structure.
The femur, which has been a source of inspiration for the
tower, is in the shape of a pipe and has a fusiform internal structure,
i.e. in which the bone narrows in the middle and expands at each
end. This structure provides flexibility and lightness for the
bones, yet does not cause them to lose a bit of their strength.
In buildings that are constructed in this way, construction material
is saved, and the construction’s skeletons gain firmness and flexibility.
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  THE
ROBOT AND THE WORM
Researchers from Amiens University took the worm as a model and
manufactured a worm-like robot consisting of independent components.
This robot can proceed in canals, in which man cannot move, to detect
water leakages or make measurements. |
THE TELESCOPE AND THE BEE AND HONEYCOMP
 Honeycombs
serve as models for the frames of telescopes.
The lens of a space telescope, which is designed to collect
X-rays emitted by heavenly bodies, is manufactured from hexagonal
mirrors, in imitation of beehives.
The reason why hexagonal mirrors are used is that with this
shape, no area is wasted, and combinations of hexagons reinforce
the general structure.
In addition, a sequence made up of hexagons provides a wide
field of view and a high quality telescope. Interestingly enough,
the eyes of bees have been made of hexagonal units for millions
of years since they were created, just as this telescope.
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 THE
SNORKEL ANF GNAT LARVAE
The gnat larva that develops in water satisfies its need for
oxygen through an air pipe reaching to the water surface. The hair
around the pipe prevents water from leaking in just as the stopper
on the top of the snorkel does. |
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 THE
CROCUS FLOWER AND THE SENSITIVE THERMOMETER
The crocus is a flower equipped with a bio-thermometer. This
plant opens, when the temperature rises to a favourable degree
and then starts to close again, when it falls below it. The Schott
Company, which imitated this flower's sensitivity to temperature,
produced thermometers measuring temperature changes of even 0.001o
C. (Bild Der Wissenschaft, February 1990)
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  THE
MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM AND THE COBWEB
In the construction of the ceiling coatings of the Munich
Olympic Stadium, the structure of the crested lark spider’s home,
which it makes by stretching web on grasses and bushes, is taken
as a model.
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THE CORN ROOT AND LIGHT CONDUCTING GLASS
CABLES
An equivalent of light-conducting glass cables already existed
thousands of years ago. Researchers, however, have only recently
discovered that cables can convey light. The shoot of corn seed
can conduct daylight to the deepest place of the root and it helps
develop the corn seeds. Fibre optics, which has this light-conducting
feature, is extensively used in many areas from traffic signs to
inter-computer data transfer. |
 THE
MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUM AND THE DRAGONFLY'S WINGS
Despite its thinness, the dragonfly's wing is very strong because
it is made up of approximately 1,000 compartments. Owing to this
divided structure, the wings of the animal are not torn and they
resist air pressure. The roof of the Munich Olympic Stadium is constructed
according to the same principle (see little photograph). |
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THE SPIDER AND THE THREAD
INDUSTRY
Scientists still work to imitate
the thread of the spider, which is thin, yet far stronger than
steel ropes of the same thickness.
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STRAW AND THE SKELETAL STRUCTURE OF BUILDING
The interior webbed structure of straw makes it flexible and
strong. The same construction technique is used in the skeletal
structure of buildings.
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